A sailboat sets out from the U.S. side of Lake Erie

  • Thread starter Thread starter HappyFlower
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Lake Sets Vector
Click For Summary

Homework Help Overview

The problem involves a sailboat navigating from the U.S. side of Lake Erie to a destination on the Canadian side, specifically addressing the sailor's deviation from the intended path and the subsequent need to determine the distance and direction to the original destination.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the setup of a vector diagram to visualize the problem, with some questioning the direction of the final vector and its relation to the quadrants.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants providing guidance on visualizing the vector setup. There is acknowledgment of potential confusion regarding the direction of the final vector, indicating a productive exploration of the problem.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the importance of understanding the quadrant system in relation to the problem's setup, as well as the implications of the sailor's current position relative to the intended destination.

HappyFlower
Messages
30
Reaction score
1

Homework Statement


A sailboat sets out from the U.S. side of Lake Erie for a point on the Canadian side, 90.0 km due north. The sailor, however, ends up 50.0 km due east of the starting point. (a) How far, and (b) in what direction must the sailor now sail to reach the original destination?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I just need help setting up the vector picture because I know the answer ends up in quadrant 2. There is a picture below I want to know if i am setting it up right.
 

Attachments

  • Untitled.png
    Untitled.png
    2.8 KB · Views: 532
Physics news on Phys.org
HappyFlower said:

Homework Statement


A sailboat sets out from the U.S. side of Lake Erie for a point on the Canadian side, 90.0 km due north. The sailor, however, ends up 50.0 km due east of the starting point. (a) How far, and (b) in what direction must the sailor now sail to reach the original destination?

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution


I just need help setting up the vector picture because I know the answer ends up in quadrant 2. There is a picture below I want to know if i am setting it up right.
Looks like you started it right. So the final path will be the hypotenuse of that triangle, right?
 
berkeman said:
Looks like you started it right. So the final path will be the hypotenuse of that triangle, right?
the answer for b as 60.9 degrees north of west what i don't understand is the direction as it ends up in the second quadrant.
 
HappyFlower said:
the answer for b as 60.9 degrees north of west what i don't understand is the direction as it ends up in the second quadrant.
Draw your final vector from the current position of the boat at the right, up to the final position of the boat at the top. That vector points up and left... :smile:
 
berkeman said:
Draw your final vector from the current position of the boat at the right, up to the final position of the boat at the top. That vector points up and left... :smile:

Thanks i think i was overthinking it -,-.
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: berkeman
:smile:
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: HappyFlower

Similar threads

Replies
4
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
3K
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
3K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
4K